Minnesota Dentists Get the Go-Ahead to Administer COVID-19 Vaccines

(KNSI) – Last week, Gov. Tim Walz signed a bill into law that allows Minnesota dentists to administer the COVID-19 vaccine, adding another aspect to the state’s vaccine rollout, which is currently ahead of schedule.

Previously, Minnesota dentists could give influenza vaccinations to patients in their clinics who are 19 or older.

“It’s a good opportunity for people throughout the state to receive a vaccination in a spot that they’re likely to visit at least once or twice a year, whereas they may not be as frequently seen by their physician,” says Dr. Jim Nickman, a pediatric dentist and president of the Minnesota Dental Association.

However, due to the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines’ deep-freeze storage requirements, dentists likely won’t be vaccinating people in their own clinics soon.

“More likely, we would be involved in some type of community vaccination center,” Nickman said. “We would be basically part of the workforce that would be [administering] the vaccine.”

But the Johnson & Johnson vaccine can be stored between 36 and 46 degrees, making it more accessible to facilities that only have refrigerators. With that vaccine, Nickman says dental offices could be part of the effort to get Minnesotans vaccinated in every corner of the state.

“If you look at the number of locations of dental offices throughout the state, we could certainly play a role, especially saving somebody … from driving a great distance to receive a vaccination,” he said.

Dentists have the authority to give COVID-19 vaccines through June 1, 2022.

“We’re seeing rays of sunshine with the vaccine being distributed and the numbers going up,” Nickman said. “Dentists are more than willing to help society put the pandemic behind us.”

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